Capezio

Capezio is THE largest pointe maker in the world to date. In 1887,  an Italian cobbler by the name of
Salvatore Capezio opened a small shop across the street from the Metropolitan Opera House. Five
years later he was the official shoemaker for the Met and made both costume shoes for the opera
singers and ballet shoes for the corps de ballet.

In 1915 Anna Pavlowa endorsed Capezio's shoes, and in the Paris Exposition in 1925, his dance
slippers won the gold medal.  Before his death in 1940 at the age of seventy, Salvatore Capezio saw his dreams fulfilled. His business had (and still is) expanded to almost every major city and dance retailer in the world.

Capezio is famous for its variety of box shapes and shank strengths. The original goal of the Capezio
Ballet Makers was to make in unnecessary for most dancers to order custom shoes. They have so
many models to choose from-any dancer will find something to suit their feet and needs.

This is a list of discontinued and antique Capezio Models.

Chasse  Had a somewhat tapered box with a medium length vamp and a low profile. The shank was a 3/4 #3 strength shank.

Glisse Had a square box with a long vamp and a low profile. The shank was a hard #5 shank.

Plie I had a moderate shank and moderate toe box with an elastic drawstring.

Plie II is the exactly the same except it has a broad toe box.

Tendu I had a light shank and moderate toe box with an elastic drawstring.

Tendu II is exactly the same except it has a broad toe.

Contempora (old style) This shoe had a somewhat tapered toe, medium weighted box with a #2 shank.

Duro Toe This is the oldest model of Capezios. It was a very tapered toe, reinforced sided boxed shoe with a suede tip.

How the Duro Toe looked in 1998 when it was finally discontinued.

Infinita had a special shank that was engineered to make the shoe extremely flexible. It is a lightweight, broad toe and low crowned model. It has a #1  3/4 shank.

Aerial - Somewhat tapered, light box with a low crown height, shorter sole, quiet tip, #2 shank, This model has extra width at the ball of the foot but a narrow heel and an enhanced arch.

Nicolini - Tapered box with a long vamp. It had a flexible heel and supportive #2 shank. Slight V-throat and small platform. For professionals and advanced students.

Odette - U-Shaped throat, strong shank, and a light wingless box that conforms easily to the foot. A medium to wide platform. It is built with a redboard shank. Has elastic drawstring, narrow heel and a buffed
leather sole.

Odette II - Same last as above, but was customizeable.

Pavlowa - Tapered box with a high profile and a long vamp. It had a #3 full shank .

Ultimo - Square box with a medium length vamp. It featured a #2 leatherboard shank. Equal in strength to Nicolini. This model was for advanced students and professional dancers.  Winged box of moderate strength, short pleats and a rounded plaform edge. This model was discontinued by Capezio in 1998.

Assoluta - A lightweight performance shoe, which is actually a lighter version of the Nicolini with a #1 flexible shank and box.

Capezio 190 - Prelude - Special order only. Created on the Aerial last, broad and flat. Reduced crown height, tapered heel, stronger box, and a reinforced shank.

Perfetta - A professional pointe shoe with a 3/4 shank. Softer and less "constructed," it provides a broad balancing surface and beautiful arch. Elastic drawstring and a buffed, scored sole.

Here are a variety of images of different antique Capezio pointe shoes.

#vintage #pointeshoes #pointe #ballet #capezio